Former West Bengal Minister Ujjal Biswas Passes Away at 72

Ujjal Biswas, a senior Trinamool Congress leader and former state correctional administration minister, passed away on Wednesday at a private hospital in Kolkata. Hospital sources confirmed that the 72-year-old leader died after battling multiple health complications for nearly three weeks. He is survived by his wife and son.

Health Complications and Hospitalization

Biswas was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mukundapur, where he had been placed on full ventilator support during his final days. According to medical updates, his health deteriorated after he suffered a brain stroke following a bypass surgery. The situation worsened as he developed pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, septic shock, and severe kidney dysfunction that required dialysis, raising concerns over multiple organ failure.

Prior Legal Troubles and Protests

Earlier in the year, Biswas faced legal scrutiny when he was arrested on June 10 regarding the alleged misappropriation of government relief materials in the Nadia district town of Krishnanagar. His arrest followed an incident where an angry crowd stormed his residence, throwing eggs and raising slogans over the alleged discovery of government supplies such as tarpaulins, dhotis, and sarees inside his house. Protesters gheraoed him for nearly an hour before police detained him and formally recorded his arrest at Kotwali Police Station. He was subsequently released on bail in July.

Tributes and Allegations of Political Persecution

Following the news of his death, party members and leaders expressed their condolences. TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh stated that he learned of the passing around 9 pm and traveled to the hospital. Former chief minister Mamata Banerjee shared a tribute on X, lamenting the loss of a close colleague and describing his loyalty as invaluable to the party.

Banerjee alleged that Biswas had endured political persecution, physical assault, and mental harassment during his final months. She claimed he was falsely implicated, kept behind bars for 49 days, and subjected to intimidation for refusing to switch sides, attributing his ordeal to political retribution.